The two wolves stop their antics at the sight of us and gallop toward us. Without ceremony, they lower themselves, inviting us to hitch a ride. Mira watches me climb on Loki’s back before she understands the gesture. She then does the same as me and carefully climbs without tilting the Jubako. 

     The ride was pleasant for the three of us, more so for Dae, who was talking the beast ears off, getting a small bark from them at the time. When the wooden, two-story building came in sight, Dae begged Loki to go faster, which the mischievous canine obliged. He dashed with his powerful legs. I had to hold Dae closer and grab his fur just to be sure to stay on his back. When we reached the barn’s doors, I could bet all my jewelry on it, that my hair would be tousled and so would Dae’s little head. But the boy, laugh gaily against my chest, unperturbed by what the gust of wind has done to his curls. 

    “Mama is a lion!” Dae gasps as he looks at my disheveled state. 

     Loki lowers himself to the ground. I step down from his back and settle the two-year-old toddler rest on my hips. “So is Dae. He is Mama’s little cub.” 

     As Dae gushes over his new title of mighty lion cub, I march inside, all the while entertaining the boy. Mira enters seconds after me and rushes to greet her girlfriend. I gaze around; I see the cows in their stalls; the piglets running around in the middle of the alley; the goats wandering the area are the only animals that can approach the horses without fearing being kicked; sleeping peacefully the herd of sheep is resting upon a thick layer of hay; the horses are secluded in the back of the barn, avoiding being near the pigs as always; but nowhere to see are those that I am looking for. Dae, who is also looking restlessly, is pouting sadly.

     Built-in the wall, the wardrobe with dull wood and cabinets made of woven rattan, next to the front door, is where we depart with our winter clothes. I hang them along with the other garments. Percy, who was changing the hay in the empty stall belonging to the pigs, makes his way towards the bearer of food, passing my seeking self. With a quick ‘Upstairs’, the man directs me to whom I seek.

     Turning on myself, declaring to Dae that we shall go on an adventure to find the others, the boy instantly beams at me, his big onyx eyes regaining his innocent spark of wonder. ‘We must be careful not to be caught by the stair spirit or we will have to walk up the from the base of the stairs’ I say to the boy as I walk to the steep stairs. His eyes grow weary and he looks around to make sure no spirit is around. The wood of the stairs, while fairly new, makes squeaking sounds as one sets foot on a step - Dae’s young mind doesn’t fathom such a possibility, so when my feet caught a vocal step, the boy tensed and in a panic he urges me to speed up.

    “Mommy faster! The spiwit is goin’ to cathz us!” Following his instructions to the letter, I jog up the stairs. At the top of the stairs, I stop and fake wheezing for a dramatic effect that convinces Dae of the perilous situation were in seconds ago. The boy celebrates our achievement with a shout of delight and he raises his small paw for me to tap it, which I oblige with joy.

    “You two seem to have a lot of fun.” Don’s husky voice resonates in the attic. He and the four kids are standing near piles of haystacks, eyeing us with mirth.

     Dae wiggles in my grasp, his sign for me to let him down. I lower him to the floor, grasping his miniature hand while he adjusts, mere seconds before I must let go of him as he waddles his way toward Don.

    “Daddy! Dae and Mommy ezcape stairs spiwit,” his small arms reach for Don’s tall frame while he struts. In an instant, he was near enough. The man grabs him under the armpit, raises the Dae over his head, and spins him around. Surprised, Dae squeals but soon giggles and embraces Don when this one hugs him. 

    “Congratulations! How did you do it?” 

    “Mommy rwan up the stairs.”

    “Yeah, did you see the spirit?” the boy shakes his mane of curls. 

     Entranced by the sight, I realize only now that I stepped towards the two, and am now at arm’s reach as Don’s hand caresses my hips thereafter pulling me closer to the two huddled bodies.

    “Well, luckily, you and Mama defeated the spirit. Did you have a good morning?” 

     Don guides us to sit on a haystack, with Dae on his lap and me by his side. 

    “Yep, I dwawed, I played with Earl and Jari…” Dae excitedly recites what he has done, stopping only to take a breath. “I help Mama cook!”

    “You and Mommy made lunch?”

    “Yes.”

    “Mira helped too, isn’t that right, Baby?”

    “Oh, yeah! Aunt Miwa help’ to,”

    “… last one up is it?” Annie’s joyful tone comes from downstairs. It is then that I notice the four missing. They must have slipped away while I focused on the two. 

     Feet thunder on the steps, marrying the noise each of them makes under the assault. I cringe as the sounds overwhelm my senses. A blond head appears, then two other heads with curly twits taming the kinky hair and at last, a brown head points its nose. 

    “Sajan, you’re it!”

    “No way. I never agreed to engage in your race. If I had, I would’ve won with my legs tied together.”

    “Fuddy-duddy!” the twins shout in sync.

    “Platoon,” says Don, with a commanding tone. The four miscreants all turn around to face the man and stand straighter, waiting in silence for the man to continue. Dae and I observe curiously. “I am glad that you’re having fun, but please continue your games at a lower volume. Your mother has sensitive ears. You can shout all you want in the afternoon.”

Realizing their blunder, their eyes all fall on me, ‘Sorry, Ma.’ they say in chorus.

    “No harm done. Did you bring everyone’s lunch? Let’s eat.” I say, eyeing the tree boxes in Sajan’s hands. 

     Sajan gives us our boxes, and then the children sit on the haystack facing ours. I tried to take from Don, but the man insisted on feeding the child. I then swapped my box with his, as mine had more food than the others. 

︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶

     The children step down to play with Dae and the animals, leaving Don and me alone. By habit, I clean up after the youths, stacking all the boxes together. 

    “Don. Stop.” I try to make my tone requiring, but it only resembles a kitty without claw hissing fit. Ignoring my request, the man continues his frolicking. His tongue darts into the nook, exploring the length of the appendage. It tells me, in an ostensive manner, exactly what he wanted.

    “I’m not,” his voice is whispery as he lies through his teeth. “doing anything.” Not doing anything, poppycock. The man behind me has been kissing my neck for some time and is now assailing my ear. Big arms seize me en prise in his lap. Hands lark about, trailing on my chest and tenderly closing around my neck. 

    “Yes. You are. And it’s not the place nor the time,” he hums equivocally. The predator tautens his snare. He lifts my head, therefore my back arches forward, and eyes his prey hungrily. 

    “I'm gonna need more than blowjobs or hand jobs. About I take your v card tonight?”

    “We’ll see..” a bruising kiss interrupts me. Don’s lips take charge of mine while I stay pliant in the harsh position that pushes my body nearly beyond its limit. His strong touches and caressing lips help take off my mind the ache of the stretch. His unoccupied hand travels from my hipbone to the tip of my nipple. The fingers teasingly ghost the sensitive pebble, circling it languishingly as it yearns for stimulation, painfully erect, and then pinch my tender nipple brutally.

     Someone clears their throat audibly. My body stiffens as I think of what the person just witnessed. Silently, I pray it is anyone but the kids. Don makes no move to let me out of his clutch. Worrily, from the corner of my eye, I see someone near the stairs. There stands a speechless Percy. An electrifying wave of novel shame washed over me, shaking me to the core. So intense that I avert my eyes, not wanting to reach completion, looking at a man other than Don. My body shakes unbeknownst to me. I mewl softly as the sensation runs over me - a sensation that burns me under my skin turns my brain to mush, and thrills me to no end. The air in my lungs becomes scarce. So scarce that Don has to release my mouth. His eyes gaze at me as if we were the only one on earth - his lips slicked and raw. Then, he murmurs, ‘Cum Princess’ lifting the floodgates and unleashing the flood.